Starting Your Job Search Right Out of College

Summary

Recent college graduates face challenges in finding entry-level jobs due to a requirement for several years of experience, and they must strategically approach their job search, resume preparation, and interview process to overcome these hurdles.

Abstract

The transition from college to the workforce is becoming increasingly challenging for new graduates, who often carry the burden of student loan debt. Despite their academic achievements and internships, they are met with the expectation of having 3+ years of experience for entry-level positions, a requirement that is projected to rise. To navigate this competitive landscape, graduates are advised to identify roles that align with their skills and degree, articulate their relevant experience, and craft a compelling resume. They should also actively engage with job search platforms, tailor cover letters for each application, and maintain a consistent search routine. Additionally, they are encouraged to prepare thoroughly for interviews and consider part-time work if the job search extends beyond six months. The process is recognized as demanding, but persistence and the acquisition of valuable experience are emphasized as key to long-term career success.

Opinions

The job market's expectation of 3+ years of experience for entry-level roles is unrealistic for recent graduates.
Graduates must be strategic in their job search, focusing on roles that match their skills and experience.
A well-crafted resume and personalized cover letters are crucial for standing out to hiring managers.
Consistency in the job search process is vital, as new opportunities arise daily.
Preparation for interviews is essential to effectively communicate one's qualifications and potential.
Flexibility in employment, such as considering part-time roles, can be a practical approach while searching for a full-time position.
The initial job search is a marathon, requiring resilience and a long-term perspective.
The first job after college is significant, as it lays the foundation for future career opportunities.

Advice from someone who’s been there

You just earned your Bachelors degree and you’re ready to take on the workforce as a new graduate. You have about $30K in student loan debt, the national average according to Credit.com and your monthly payment is about $400. You’ve worked so hard on your studies for the past four years or so — you had a 3.9 GPA, you did research projects and internships, you Tad for lower level classes — and you thought you were so prepared to start making money right out of college. You’re looking for an entry level job that you’re qualified for with your degree. That shouldn’t be too hard, right?

Wrong.

According to the Ladders, 61% of entry level jobs require 3+ years of experience. What’s worse is this number is expected to steadily increase going forward.

What does this mean for new college grads?

Basically, that one-year internship that you struggled to complete while you were going to school full-time or that part-time job in high school that wasn’t related to your field of study, is a drop in the bucket when it comes to accumulating the experience you need for your first “real” job.

So, what do you do?

As a private tutor and college advisor, I recommend the following steps:

1. Decide which roles you are interested in — Do some research. Search for common jobs for your major or common fields that people with your degree enter. Put together a list of the top 5 jobs you would like to pursue. Make sure these are realistic. These will guide you through your job search.

2. Evaluate all the skills you’ve acquired and all the experience you’ve had that can be related to the job roles you listed. If you worked in customer service in any way, make sure you note that. If you did any administrative work, highlight that too. Make a comprehensive list of your prior work/internship experience.

3. Put everything together in your resume. Look online for examples to ensure that your resume stands out, while not falling so much outside the norm that it gets tossed before the hiring manager gets to review it. Check for spelling and grammatical errors before you save a final copy.

4. Pick a day to start your job search and set aside at least two hours to set up your profile on popular job sites like ZipRecruiter, Indeed. Monster, LinkedIn, and more.

5. Set aside another two hours on that first day to apply to the jobs you are interested in on all the sites. Look for the most recent postings, but also go back to the last 30 days.

6. Write a cover letter for all job postings that give you the option to submit additional documents. This article from Novoresume can help you structure and write your standout cover letter for 2020. Personalize your cover letter for each position you are applying to.

7. Each day, set aside an hour to go through new job postings and search other niche job posting sites, like remote.co or flexjobs.com for partially remote or 100% remote positions that don’t tie you to a specific location.

8. If you miss a day of job searching, don’t worry — just get back on track the next day. But, it’s very important that you keep up with this consistent job search because each day new jobs are posted and you might need to apply to 50 jobs and go through 20 interviews to finally get hired.

9. Prepare for all your phone interviews, video interviews, and in-person interviews. You already spent all this time making yourself stand out on paper — now it’s time to show the hiring manager why they should choose you for this role. Sell yourself. Don’t be overly confident, but don’t sell yourself short either. Highlight your experience that might not show through as strongly on paper. Speak to your strengths, as well as your weaknesses.

10. If six months pass and you need to start repaying your student loans and you didn’t find a full-time job, consider looking for two part-time jobs to hold you over financially while you continue your search for the right full-time position.

The initial job search process right out of college can certainly be daunting, especially with all the financial burdens that students face in today’s day and age. But, if you remain diligent and treat this as a marathon rather than a sprint, you will eventually succeed. It will take a lot of hard work and there will be days when you don’t want to look at another job posting, but coming from experience, when you find that full-time role right out of college and you stick with it for a while, you earn valuable experience that can only help you in the long run. Your first job right out of college plays an integral role in your future career.